image by Mannequin-

Starting a blog can be a daunting task.

What is the purpose of the blog?

Is there a targeted niche?

Do you want to make money from it?

Is it going to be a group blog or individual?

Which platform should you use?

Do you want to be self-hosted or a free site?

A little discouraging when it’s put into perspective, but it doesn’t have to be.

Create an outline of what you’d like to accomplish; make an informed decision.

I won’t tell you what platform to go with, because that’s a personal decision based on what your specific needs may be – but even a bit more knowledge can help you review your options before jumping in, right?

It’s important to know that some platforms have restrictions.

A free WordPress.com site does not allow its users to advertise, and users cannot change any part of the design without purchasing credits to do so. But a free Blogger site allows customization as well as advertising.

Self-hosting is possible.

Self-hosting can be a little costly depending on what your intentions are for blogging – if you’re going to be an occasional blogger, then you should consider if you’re willing to pay for hosting costs and purchasing a domain when you’re only posting a couple times a month. Is it really worth it to you?

I’ve personally found that self-hosting on WordPress.org has opened up so many doors for me and helped me learn about design and coding. They also offer drag-and-drop sidebar widgets for those who aren’t code loving nerds like me – I enjoy the tinkering behind-the-scene and avoiding widgets. Going self-hosted does not mean you have to be a tech guru, since many platforms have begun to make the administrative area even more user friendly.

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Sam {temptingmama} blogs daily at her personal site, Temporarily Me as well as at Craftastrophe.